Man arrested after trying to film cop's conversation

Police book him under section 66 (e) of the Information Technology Act

A 38-year-old man was arrested on charges of obstructing government officials on duty at the Dhankawadi police chowkyon Saturday afternoon.

Police also invoked section 66(e) (punishment for violation of privacy) of the Information Technology Act against the accused after he was caught recording a conversation between a police officer inside the station.

Cops had called the Sandeep Ramchandra Marne (38), a resident of Yashwantrao Chavan Nagar in Dhankawadi, to the police station to reprimand him as his divorced wife Sunita Vishnupant Khalate had approached them over an earlier incident.

“Marne works as a driver and a non-cognisable offence was registered against him earlier. We wanted to issue a warning to him in that case and hence summoned him to the police station. His wife was also present inside the chowky,” said Police Sub-inspector S S Jankar who lodged the complaint against Marne.

“While I was having a conversation with Khalate, Marne started recording it in his mobile phone. He then created a ruckus by shouting inside the chowky and obstructed our work. After realising that he had recorded a part of our conversation, I tried to get hold of his mobile but he pushed me and tried to flee. Some staff managed to nab him and he was later arrested,” said Jankar. Marne was produced in court and was remanded in 14 days magisterial custody.

Expertspeak Cyber law expert Sagar Rahurkar said, “Section 66(e) of the IT Act deals with the violation of privacy of any individual. However in this case, a police chowky is a public area. If Marne has captured obscene images, which violates the privacy of the concerned individual in his mobile, then only this section can be invoked against him.”